Chicago Bears legend Richard Dent couldn’t be prouder. His Make a Dent Foundation aimed to raise more than $50,000 for Columbia College Chicago’s Sports Management program in support of diversity. “Spend a lot of money,” Columbia’s president Warrick Carter told the swank crowd at Soldier Field’s Cadillac Room recently. “Bid very, very high.” Among the auctioned items: rare memorabilia, including an autographed plaque by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a Bruce Springsteen guitar. Surprise guest Julius “Dr. J” Erving hoped to snag a trip to Costa Rica, but didn’t spot his dream package among the auction offers. “Can’t find it,” he chimed, later winning the bid for an autographed MVP poster instead. Bad Boy Records and hometown R&B crooner Carl Thomas thrilled the crowd with his romantic ballads, including “I Wish,” before dashing off to catch a red-eye flight to a show in Cancun. However, it was former Bear Steve McMichael who scored the scene-stealing moment. Known for unpredictable stunts, McMichael strolled in with his pint-sized Chihuaua, who even joined him at the dinner table. Said Dent: “I’m just glad everyone had fun.”
1. Reginald Crockett, Michelle Crockett, Kerry Burge. 2. Ryan Baker, Gary Fencik. 3. Julius Erving. 4. Monica Dixon, Tran Tu. 5. Deme Witherspoon, Megan O’Connor, Tessa Klinger. 6. Mark Tovey, Dave Duerson. 7. Warrick Carter, Richard Dent. 8. Jerry Azuma. Photos: Stephen J. Serio.
